Danielle Brisebois Movies

Join filmmakers Gil Cates Jr. and Julie Stevens as they set out to speak with over 40 women who appeared in the hit musical Annie as young children while simultaneously exploring the benefits and drawbacks of entering into show business at such a tender age. As a child, co-director Stevens portrayed an orphan in both the Broadway production of Annie and the national tour. Years later, she would set out to see what became of the dozens of women who played orphans in the Broadway production between 1977 and 1983. From their performances in the production to the effect that the hectic schedule had on their childhoods, family lives, and future career prospects, this film offers an intimate look at a major production that helped thousands of children launch their careers in show business. In addition to interviews with Annie creators Martin Charnin and Charles Strouse, actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Martha Byrne, recording artist Joanna Pacitti, songwriter Danielle Brisebois, and MSNBC anchor Dara Brown all discuss what it was like to appear as orphans in the beloved, long-running production. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The first episode of Murder, She Wrote's fourth season is partially filmed on location in Paris. Mystery writer Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) has arrived in the City of Light to witness the first major presentation of an old friend, now a fashion designer. Our heroine's pleasure becomes business when a loan shark is murdered and Jessica's financially-strapped friend is accused of the crime. Despite all this intrigue, guest star Juliet Prowse finds time to sing a medley of such Gallic favorites as "La Vie en Rose." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Theodore Bikel returns as Bronx butcher Alvin Klemmer, the man who fell in love with Edith during All in the Family's eighth season. Insisting that he's gotten over his infatuation with Edith, Alvin introduces the Bunkers to his new fiancée, a mittel-European woman named Judith Klammerstadt. But even slow-on-the-uptake Archie realizes that Alvin's latest love bears an astonishing resemblance to Edith as well she should, since both Edith and Judith are played by Jean Stapleton (who, in her "other" role, is billed as Giovanna Pucci, an Italianized variation of the actress' married name, Mrs. Jean Putch). Written by Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf, "A Girl Like Edith" originally aired on January 14, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The disappearance of several items from the Bunker household coincides with a rash of petty thefts from the school attended by Stephanie. Though Archie and Edith are reluctant to believe it, the evidence is irrefutable: Stephanie has been stealing. The question is how best to punish the girl, who, after all, is not really the Bunkers' daughter. Davis Roberts appears as school principal Mr. Ruskin. Written by Larry Rhine and Mel Tolkin, "Stephanie and the Crime Wave" was originally telecast on January 28, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Fully aware of Archie's narrow-minded attitude towards minorities, Stephanie hides the fact that she's Jewish. The truth comes to the forefront thanks to the family's well-meaning minister, Reverend Chong (Clyde Kusatsu), to whom Stephanie confessed during a Sunday School session. Will Archie renounce Stephanie now that he knows she's not "one of his kind," or will he swallow his pride and prejudices (for the umpteenth time)? Written by Patt Shea and Harriet Weiss, "Stephanie's Conversion" first aired on February 18, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Technically speaking, this was the 199th episode of All in the Family. But because the earlier one-hour episode "California Here We Are" was conceived as two half-hour installments, "The Best of All in the Family" was heralded as the series' 200th program. Hosted by producer Norman Lear, this 90-minute offering featured innumerable highlights from the series' eight seasons on the air, concentrating on the "character growth" of Edith, Gloria, and Mike and the gradual mellowing of the bigoted Archie. Also shown were clips from such controversial episodes as "Edith's 50th Birthday," in which Edith was held at knifepoint by a rapist. First telecast on March 4, 1979, "Best of All in the Family" has since been syndicated as three consecutive 30-minute episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Much to Archie's discomfort, Edith insists upon rehearsing day and night for her singing duet with Stephanie at the annual PTA show. The night of the performance, Edith suffers from laryngitis. Reluctantly, and inevitably, Archie agrees to take Edith's place, making a musical debut that is truly one for the books. Written by Mel Tolkin and Larry Rhine, "A Night at the PTA" first aired on January 7, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Edith is her usual bubbly, buoyant self as she prepares a special St. Patrick's Day dinner for the patrons of Archie's bar. But what Archie doesn't know is that Edith is paying a painful price for her cheerfulness; suffering from phlebitis, she had been ordered by her doctor to stay off her feet. Written by Patt Shea and Harriet Weiss, "Too-Good Edith" originally aired on April 8, 1979, as the 203rd and final episode of All in the Family. Most of the regular cast members would reassemble the following September for the spin-off series Archie Bunker's Place, which ran until 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Archie is shocked to discover that the new waitress hired by Harry is none other than Denise (Janis Paige), the woman with whom Archie nearly had an extramarital fling back in 1976. Unfortunately, Edith also learns that Denise is back in the neighborhood. Inevitably, the two women in Archie's life have a showdown -- with surprising and surprisingly touching results. Written by Milt Josefsberg and Phil Sharp, "The Return of the Waitress" was first broadcast on November 26, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Eagerly awaiting a visit from Mike, Gloria, and Joey during the Christmas holidays, Archie and Edith are surprised to learn that the Stivics have cancelled their trip from California to New York. The reason, according to Gloria, is that Mike is suffering from a bad back. Suspecting that something else is amiss, the Bunkers decide to make the westward journey to Santa Barbara to find out for themselves. Written by Mel Tolkin and Larry Rhine, "The Bunkers Go West" originally aired on December 10, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season nine of All in the Family finds Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor) in his second year as owner of his own neighborhood tavern, with his wife, Edith (Jean Stapleton), supporting his new project every inch of the way. Archie and Edith's daughter, Gloria (Sally Struthers), son-in-law, Mike (Rob Reiner), and grandson, Joey, are no longer regular characters, having moved from New York to California. However, the Bunkers pay Mike, Gloria, and Joey a visit at Christmastime -- only to discover that the younger couple is on the verge of divorce. Back at home, the Bunkers have become surrogate parents for little Stephanie Mills (Danielle Brisebois), who has been dumped on their doorstep by her father, Edith's no-good cousin Floyd. The introduction of Stephanie brings out the warmer, mellower side of the bombastic Archie, though there are still times that he re-emerges as his old reactionary self. Technically speaking, the ninth season of All in the Family marked the series' swan song. However, the venerable property would re-emerge the following year under a new title, Archie Bunker's Place. ~ All Movie Guide